Rounding off the week

Well, for the first time ever, I'm finishing off the blog. 

Friday morning we returned to the marina in preparation for shutting down the boat and making our way back home. We had a lovely trip along the cut, got caught out by the wind when turning into the marina - but managed to get things sorted OK. Then had to negotiate mooring space with the swans and their 8 cygnets, the duck with her 5 and the moorhen who now only has one remaining chick. They've all claimed water rights and bank-side ownership of the slip where we moor. After a hissy fit or two they all settled down and soon came pestering for food. 

The thing I love about our Deutz air-cooled engine is that when you walk away from it, all you have to do is turn off the diesel and that's it. Lovely in the winter because you don't have to worry about anti-freeze or draining the header tank - there's no water involved at all. Oh, talking of water, I do have to put a cap on the exhaust pipe because it points straight up through the roof and, the one time I forgot about it, I got covered in sooty water when I came to turn the engine over after a long rainy break. 

So, engine OK, battery management system OK, bilges empty and stern gland tightened up, water turned off, gas off, fridge emptied and turned off, mooring ropes secured, and so on. There's only two of us but it still takes an hour to get it all packed up and in the car. Finally, all set and off we set toward the M1 and our journey south. 

A gentle potter

Thursday was a day for revisiting a bit of the canal that we had only been on a year ago. 

After the captain had finished her morning session on FaceBook we had a leisurely breakfast of eggs, bacon and toast. Funny how we hardly ever have this at home but, on the boat, it is a great favourite of ours. 

Once again, the generator stopped generating but after last year's experiences I pressed the magic button and everything came back to life again. Whew! I've said it before, but a little knowledge with me is a dangerous thing. 

I've also been having some trouble with the stern gland. For those of you who followed the blog last year you will know that I tightened it up quite a bit then. Well, this time, I took up some more of the floor boards and got both hands dirty, tightening up even further. Next time she's out of the water I think a repacking is in order. Something I probably can do but the thought of having water coming in the boat while removing the old packing is something I do not want to experience on my own. 

We set of toward Gayton junction and, just before the junction, there is one of the old turnover bridges. These bridges were built every few miles so that the horse's towing rope could be changed from one side to the other to relieve the strain its shoulders and back. 

The junction is quite busy today with several moored craft along its length. 

At the junction we turned left toward Northampton and we made our way along past Gayton Marina up to the first lock on the Northampton arm. It's not a long journey but it is very pleasant and quiet. It's also fun turning (winding) the boat just before the lock and getting it just right. 

Returning to the junction there were a couple of boats messing about at the water point. Once they were sorted, it was right turn and heading back toward Bugbrooke. We stopped for lunch and decided to stop where we were for the night. 

Spent a bit of the afternoon scratching away at some rust at the front of the boat. Luckily it was inside the boat because it decided to rain just as I was putting on a coat of Hammerite black. Over with the front cover and carry on in the dry. However, it was so bright outside that it was difficult to see what I was doing without shading my eyes. Must have looked quite an odd sight from outside - that is, to anyone mad enough to be walking in the rain, that is! 

Still, a good job done and it don't look too bad! 

A better day

A better day, indeed. 

Well, look at that sky, compared to Tuesday, barely a cloud in sight. 

Forget to mention that on Tuesday we spotted a Kingfisher. I say spotted but it was more a case of "There it is" "Where?" "Over there" "Got it, it's gone!" But, luckily, this went on for a lot longer as the bird flitted ahead of us for quite some time. We never really saw it properly but the vivid blue plumage was quite something to behold. 

Wednesday, a better day, and we set off back down the canal past Bugbrooke and on to a beautiful spot halfway between Bugbrooke and Gayton. We moored up opposite open fields, enjoying the peacefulness of the countryside until the next train went past. That's the biggest problem with the canals, they were made to follow the most level path through the countryside and, when the railway came along, what better path to follow than the most level path through the countryside.

Anyway, we decided to go for a walk in the afternoon and a lovely walk it was. 

Our walk took us past wheat and barley fields and there was enough cloud cover to make it a pleasant stroll. 

In some places the corn was still ripening and in others it had already been harvested. 

It's a bit hazy in the distance but a different crop entirely - electricity! A field of solar panels. 

And here we are, secure for the night. Supper of sausages in cider, a favourite of ours for many a year. Probably since 1976 when we had a camping holiday in Dent. It was the summer of a national heatwave but in Dent it rained for the whole week. We gave up early and, just as we packed up everything, guess what, the sun came out. At least the boat is more weatherproof than a tent and a tad bigger. 

Onward and upwards! 

Pottering post lockdown

Looking back, I realise that I never finish off my holiday posts. Sorry about that. I think that with the thought of going home I just stop writing and get packing. 

Mind you, a lot happened before we finally left the boat in September. The captain celebrated a 'big' birthday. 

Perhaps the celebrations had something to do with forgetting the blog! 

Anyway, after 8 months away, we are back on Polgara. Didn't expect it to be so long but COVID-19 didn't help. This morning the sun was shining and all was well with the world.

We set off in brilliant sunshine and headed North toward Buckby Locks. Our plan for the next few days, to potter up to the locks, turn round, moor up somewhere, head South toward Stoke Bruerne, moor up somewhere and then potter back in a leisurely manner to the marina at Bugbrooke. 

The captain is concentrating hard. I wonder why?

It's obvious, really, there's a narrow bridge ahead and there have been quite a few boats on the cut today making the most of the fine weather. 

We reached Buckby Locks and stopped for a brief lunch - well, you know how I like my food! 

Sorry about the legs but they come with the boat. 

At this point on the canal you have the M1 about 500 yds to the East. 

The railway about 500 yds to the West and, beyond that, the old A5. Not the best of places to moor for the night. 

We did our little turn around and passing through bridge 16 we saw Bert and Mary (Mary Poppins) watching us from the bank. 

Stopped just short of Weedon for the night and watched a crane being manoeuvred into position ready to lift out a boat tomorrow.

Well, that's all for today - I'll see if I can keep up the postings right to the end this time. Sleep well. Oh, and by the way, it's been cloudy all afternoon - where's the sun gone?